Cop patrolling on stolen motorbike!

Locals claim API Umesh Patil from Nagpada seized a two-wheeler from a gang of robbers, began using it for personal work by pasting a police sticker on it

Ever wondered what happens to stolen vehicles recovered by cops? Restored to their owners did you say? Well, these pictures tell a different story. The photographs are of two different motorbikes bearing similar number plates -- MH43-AA-369.

Same, same: API Umesh Patil riding the alleged stolen two-wheeler

The number plate MH43-AA-369 is registered in the name of Ashok Mainde, who bought his bike with his pension funds in April 2009 Pics/Atul Kamble and Siddharth Dhadve

The number is registered with one Ashok Mainde, a retired BEST supervisor and a resident of Airoli in Navi Mumbai, for his Honda Shine bike. The other bike, a Honda Stunner, is being used by an assistant police inspector, Umesh Patil, from Nagpada police station. Sources from the police khabri circles revealed Patil has been 'gifted' the two-wheeler by a history-sheeter from the area.

Numbers don't lie"We have seen him on this bike for the last couple of months. He usually comes to office in a car, which he parks at Kamathipura police chowki, where he has been deputed. He (Patil) then uses this bike for beat patrolling," a shop owner from Kamathipura area said on the condition of anonymity, fearing he may have to face the wrath of the officer.

If a letter submitted with the deputy commissioner of police, zone III is to be believed, the bike was given to Patil by history-sheeter Yakub Shaikh, a resident of Nagpada. It is believed that last year, Yakub had extorted money from a group of robbers and then eventually tipped Patil off about them.

Keepsake!Following the steer, Patil arrested the entire group and recovered jewellery worth lakhs of rupees. He, however, did not disclose the Honda Stunner that was also found in possession of the accused, and instead began using it for personal work by embossing a police sticker on it.

When contacted, Thane RTO officer NK Patil confirmed the number in question is registered in the name of Airoli resident, Ashok Mainde. "I bought this bike in the month of April 2009 from Ashwini Motors in sector-8, Airoli. I have invested my provident fund in purchasing it." Mainde confirmed.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Kishore Jadhav said, "I have not yet received the complaint. Once that happens, appropriate action will be taken in the case." When contacted by MiD DAY, Patil said, "I don't have a motorbike.

I own a scooter." When this reporter informed him that MiD DAY has photographed him riding that particular bike in Nagpada, Patil added, "I must have borrowed the vehicle from one of my friends. I am not able to recollect who the friend was."

Chequered pastIn January this year, Nagpada residents accused Lakdawala Builders and Developers -- who have been redeveloping the chawl since 2008 -- of forging the consent letters. The petition also stated that each time the residents approached Nagpada police, Patil refused to register an FIR claiming it was a civil matter. "Instead of helping us, Patil colluded with the builders and implicated us in a false case," accused Mohammed Ibrahim Ansari, one of the residents. Passing a strict remark against the Nagpada police that they need to 'reread the law books', the Bombay High Court rapped the officials, especially API Umesh Patil in the matter. MiD DAY had reported the issue on January 3 (HC tells Nagpada cops to 'reread law books').